Karnataka government has increased its outlay of Rs.2,428 crore in 2011-12 for the Dept of Health and Family Welfare from Rs.1,935 crore in 2010-11.


In the budget presentation made by chief minister BS Yeddyurappa announced a slew of schemes. These include an allocation of Rs.2 crore for treatment of opportunistic infections of all HIV infected persons in high prevalent districts of Bagalkot, Bijapur and Belgaum, and all the HIV infected children in the State.


The Arogyabandhu Scheme of the Dept of Health & Family Welfare, which covered a total of 56 Primary Health Centres in the State is being managed by various organizations under public private partnership and now the government has further extended to all urban and rural areas of the State, giving priority to the experienced and specialized institutions so that medical assistance can be provided to the people.


On the medical education front, the outlay has been increased from Rs.723 crore in 2010-11 to Rs.826 crore in 2011-12.


The government has announced a total annual intake of undergraduate courses in four government medical colleges at Bangalore, Mysore, Bellary and Hubli have been increased from 500 to 800 seats. Simultaneously proposal is also being made to the Medical Council of India for increasing the number of PG seats. With these additional seats, along with the 600 MBBS seats in the newly started six government medical colleges, the availability of qualified medical doctors will increase considerably.


An amount of Rs.5 crore will be provided to upgrade the Rajiv Gandhi Chest Institute as a national institute. To provide specialized health care services to senior citizens and to take up research activities a ‘Geriatric Institute’ at an estimate of Rs.5 crore would be established in the premises of Rajiv Gandhi Chest Institute.


Karnataka Institute of diabetology is developing as a unique centre for comprehensive treatment and care of diabetic people. An amount of Rs.5 crore will be provided for strengthening the institute.


For upgradation of Dharwad Mental Health and Neuro Sciences Institute, Rs.5 crore would be provided.


The Hrudaya Sanjeevani Scheme which is is being implemented successfully by Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, had 992 poor patients been treated. An amount of Rs.5 crore will be provided to continue this scheme.


The state government has set-aside an amount of Rs.25 crore to the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli.


Under the Ayush category, following the success of the World Ayurveda Conference held in Bangalore, the government with a view to encourage study of Ayurveda, has proposed to start an Ayurveda college, Shimoga in 2011-12 for which it has allocated an amount of Rs.10 crore.


During 2010-11, more than 45,000 patients were treated in Ayush hospitals and clinics. In all district hospitals Ayush units would be started. For this purpose Rs.5 crore would be provided. In Ayush hospitals and in other places, Wellness Centres would be established on public private partnership basis.


In order to provide preventive, holistic and lifestyle management practices, a new scheme called ‘Ayush Grama’ would be taken up on PPP model in one Gram Panchayat each in 10 taluks on pilot basis.